Ravens reinstate linebacker Rolando McClain from reserve/retired list

The Baltimore Ravens have reinstated inside linebacker Rolando McClain from the reserve/retired list, two days after McClain worked out for Ravens officials at team headquarters in Owings Mills.

The workout did not go well, according to a source. McClain struggled during position drills and failed to finish a conditioning test. However, it appears Baltimore will give the former top-10 pick a chance to compete for a roster spot.

The Ravens signed McClain last April after he was released by the Oakland Raiders, but McClain retired a month later after he was arrested for the third time in a 17-month period.

He said at the time that he needed to take time away from football to get his personal life in order, which McClain told the Times recently he has done.

Now, McClain will get a chance to show that he can still be the same type of difference maker at inside linebacker that he was at the University of Alabama.

McClain hasn't played a down of football since November of 2012, but Ravens team officials are still intrigued by McClain's upside.

McClain failed to live up to expectations with the Raiders, but he was good enough to be selected with the No. 8 overall pick in the draft only four years ago.

He is also just 24, and he did have 99 tackles, five sacks and 14 passes defended for Oakland in 2011.